Archives for August 2012

Identity. Fundamental to us all. Yet so seldom explored. What does it mean to be a Christian in the 21st century? The past few months I've been in a sort of identity crisis. My Christian upbringing has been so fundamental to my worldview that I've rarely taken the time to look at my life from an outside perspective. Being somewhat at a cross roads I decided to ask a new friend for advice. I've emailed Brian McLaren in the past, and, to my pleasant surprise, he has been remarkably available to h … [Read more...]

Over the last decade I have been so encouraged to see the same impulses that have made many of us desire "culturally indigenous" versions of our faith are happening in every stream of Christianity and in even in Judaism. A few years ago I met the good people from JumpStart and was thrilled to see many of the similarities amongst these Rabbis with what we are doing in Emergent - seeking expressions of our faith that are as fitting for our day as they can be and not being tied to the cultural … [Read more...]

(Read the Introduction to this series)So, what is the cost to the whole community of faith when a particular part, in this case indigenous followers of Jesus and other minorities, are shut out?One of the most severe and indicting statements made by the Apostle Paul concerned those advantaged believers “hogging” the whole table and keeping out those who were disadvantaged. … [Read more...]

For years I have been exploring the idea of faith on the fringe of church-ianity and beyond. I like to explore what I call, " radical, scandalous redemptive imagination." I believe our old maps are worn out, in a landscape that has changed dramatically, and continues to undergo rapid change...old maps can not take us into new lands. I believe poets, story tellers and artists have the uncanny ability to be new world prophets...to resurrect old myths, create new metaphors to recapture the … [Read more...]

Today on my Radio Show I took exception to a gun range where people pay to be trained in firing high power weapons and then have a chance to kill Osama Bin Laden in a role-playing game. … [Read more...]

Dear Dr. Witherington, I feel as but a mere ant to respond to a man of your caliber, but I was impressed by your recent post in regard to the anti-ecclesial rhetoric within emerging communities. Hopefully my meager efforts will reassure you that you are on point. Furthermore, we might not be so far off in our ecclesiology. First, your words are very well put and poignant for us to consider in the emerging conversation. While it was not a revelation to me that ekklesia is an anthropological ter … [Read more...]

My friend and fellow Common Tabler Pete comes at emergence not via the plethora of niche-market Christian books, but through science. He is a systems engineer by trade, a musician by training, and a scientist by passion. Last month he came and guest lectured in my Wesley Seminary course on Emergence Christianity, to rave reviews. He talked about systems theory, special relativity, quantum physics, flocking, music, and emergence, relating all of it to the grassroots changes we are seeing in c … [Read more...]

In 1969 The Who released the now famed rock opera album Tommy. Mostly written by Who guitarist Pete Townsend as a way of working through his abusive childhood, Tommy was a hit. As I think about the abusive relationship between to colonial Christian West and the indigenous peoples who have been degraded, exploited, and now forgotten I bring a challenge. Many of my friends have said, "okay, I agree, but what can I do?" So, I will try my best to come up with actionable points in each post that we … [Read more...]

This is one of my favorite stories is the gospels ( John 6:1-15 ), every time I read it, it is like a sun rise that slowly and mysteriously illuminates the landscape of reality to endless possibilities. It continuously breaks the illusion that God is restricted to borders...that he gravitates to those he likes. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:45, " In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and … [Read more...]

There is this moment of intrinsic subversion to exclusivity in the Jesus Narrative. But what is moment, if not something captured in and by time. An idea bound and contingent in space, a dependent object that relies upon its own ontological teleology. Meaning that the moment itself finds its purpose in being that very moment, and the events that transpire are then transcendentalized by their very innate placement within the narrative. A few of Jesus friends encounter people who dont … [Read more...]

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Welcome to Emerging Voices

The Emerging Voices blog picks up where the Emergent Village Voice left off. We are no less than 31 rotating voices speaking daily into this movement to continue conversations around Emergence and emerging Christianity. We hope that by keeping this space alive, all those who are emerging can find mile markers of resonance along their journey. We also hope to inspire action for justice among Emergent, emerging, progressive Christians and all allies of hope, so that we might put our faith, together, toward praxis and help make the world we inhabit more Christ-like. We are 50% women, 50% people of color, 25% LGBTQ and 10% international voices and we have much to say.